Battle of Lincoln (1141)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lincoln or First Battle of Lincoln occurred on 2 February 1141. In it Stephen of England
was captured, imprisoned and effectively deposed while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.
had been besieging Lincoln Castle
but were themselves attacked by a relief force loyal to Maude (the Empress Matilda) and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
, Matilda's half-brother. The Angevin army consisted of the divisions of Robert's men, those of Ranulf, Earl of Chester and those disinherited by Stephen, while on the flank was a mass of Welsh troops led by Madog ap Maredudd
, Lord of Powys, and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd
. Cadwaladr was the brother of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd
, but Owain did not support any side in The Anarchy
. Stephen’s force included William of Ypres
; Simon of Senlis; Gilbert of Hertford; William of Aumale
, Alan of Richmond and Hugh Bigod but was markedly short of cavalry.
As soon as the battle was joined the majority of the leading magnates, fled the king. Other important magnates captured with the king were Baldwin fitz Gilbert; Bernard de Balliol, Roger de Mowbray; Richard de Courcy; William Peverel of Nottingham
; Gilbert de Grant; Ingelram de Say; Ilbert de Lacy and Richard fitz Urse, all men of respected baronial families, it had only been the Earls who had fled.
Even as the royal troops listened to the exhortations of Stephen's lieutenant, Baldwin fitz Gilbert, the advancing enemy was heard and soon the disinherited Angevin knights charged the cavalry of the five earls. On the left Earl William Aumale of York and William Ypres charged and smashed the poorly armed, 'but full of spirits', Welsh division but were themselves in turn routed 'in a moment' by the well-ordered military might of Earl Ranulf who stood out from the mass in 'his bright armour'. The earls, outnumbered and outfought, were soon put to flight and many of their men were killed and captured. King Stephen and his knights were rapidly surrounded by the Angevin force.
After fierce fighting in the city's streets, Stephen's forces were defeated. Stephen himself was captured and taken to Bristol
, where he was imprisoned. He was subsequently exchanged for the Earl of Gloucester
, and Matilda was defeated at the Rout of Winchester
the following September, ending her brief ascendancy in the wars with Stephen.
This battle features in the historical novel The Pillars of the Earth
by Ken Follett
, and is described almost as it happened, including the capture of King Stephen and his subsequent exchange.
Similarly, it is recounted in "When Christ and his Saints Slept" by Sharon Penman.
The battle of Lincoln is also an important plot element in Dead Man's Ransom
, a novel in the Brother Cadfael series by Edith Pargeter
(writing as Ellis Peters).
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
was captured, imprisoned and effectively deposed while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.
Account
The forces of King Stephen of EnglandStephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
had been besieging Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle is a major castle constructed in Lincoln, England during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes. It is only one of two such castles in the country, the other being at Lewes in Sussex...
but were themselves attacked by a relief force loyal to Maude (the Empress Matilda) and commanded by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
, Matilda's half-brother. The Angevin army consisted of the divisions of Robert's men, those of Ranulf, Earl of Chester and those disinherited by Stephen, while on the flank was a mass of Welsh troops led by Madog ap Maredudd
Madog ap Maredudd
Madog ap Maredudd was the last Prince of the entire Kingdom of Powys, Wales and for a time held the Fitzalan Lordship of Oswestry.Madog was the son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn and grandson of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn. He followed his father on the throne of Powys in 1132...
, Lord of Powys, and Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd
Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd was the third son of Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd, Wales and younger brother of Owain Gwynedd.-Appearance in history:...
. Cadwaladr was the brother of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
, but Owain did not support any side in The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
. Stephen’s force included William of Ypres
William of Ypres
William of Ypres , styled count of Flanders, was King Stephen of England's chief lieutenant during the English civil wars of 1139–54...
; Simon of Senlis; Gilbert of Hertford; William of Aumale
William le Gros, 1st Earl of Albemarle
William le Gros was the Count of Aumale , Earl of York, and Lord of Holderness. He was the eldest son of Stephen, Count of Aumale, and his spouse, Hawise, daughter of Ralph de Mortimer of Wigmore....
, Alan of Richmond and Hugh Bigod but was markedly short of cavalry.
As soon as the battle was joined the majority of the leading magnates, fled the king. Other important magnates captured with the king were Baldwin fitz Gilbert; Bernard de Balliol, Roger de Mowbray; Richard de Courcy; William Peverel of Nottingham
William Peverel the Younger
William "the Younger" Peverel was the son of William Peverel. He lived in Nottingham, England.He married Avicia de Lancaster in La Marche, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Roger "The Poitevin" Montgomery and Countess Almodis of La Marche. In 1114, she bore a daughter, Margaret Peverel...
; Gilbert de Grant; Ingelram de Say; Ilbert de Lacy and Richard fitz Urse, all men of respected baronial families, it had only been the Earls who had fled.
Even as the royal troops listened to the exhortations of Stephen's lieutenant, Baldwin fitz Gilbert, the advancing enemy was heard and soon the disinherited Angevin knights charged the cavalry of the five earls. On the left Earl William Aumale of York and William Ypres charged and smashed the poorly armed, 'but full of spirits', Welsh division but were themselves in turn routed 'in a moment' by the well-ordered military might of Earl Ranulf who stood out from the mass in 'his bright armour'. The earls, outnumbered and outfought, were soon put to flight and many of their men were killed and captured. King Stephen and his knights were rapidly surrounded by the Angevin force.
The rest of his division fought on with no hope of escape until all were killed or had surrendered. Baldwin fitz Richard and Richard fitz Urse 'having received many wounds, and, by their determined resistance, having gained immortal honour' were taken prisoner.
"Then might you have seen a dreadful aspect of battle, on every quarter around the king's troop fire flashing from the meeting of swords and helmets - a dreadful crash, a terrific clamour - at which the hills re-echoed, the city walls resounded. With horses spurred on, they charged the king's troop, slew some, wounded others, and dragging some away, made them prisoners.
No rest, no breathing time was granted them, except in the quarter where stood that most valiant king, as the foe dreaded the incomparable force of his blows. The earl of Chester, on perceiving this, envying the king his glory, rushed upon him with all the weight of his armed men. Then was seen the might of the king, equal to a thunderbolt, slaying some with his immense battle-axe, and striking others down.
Then arose the shouts afresh, all rushing against him and him against all. At length through the number of the blows, the king's battle-axe was broken asunder. Instantly, with his right hand, drawing his sword, well worthy of a king, he marvellously waged the combat, until the sword as well was broken asunder.
On seeing this William Kahamnes, a most powerful knight, rushed upon the king, and seizing him by the helmet, cried with a loud voice, 'Hither, all of you come hither! I have taken the king!'"
After fierce fighting in the city's streets, Stephen's forces were defeated. Stephen himself was captured and taken to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, where he was imprisoned. He was subsequently exchanged for the Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
, and Matilda was defeated at the Rout of Winchester
Rout of Winchester
In the Rout of Winchester on September 14, 1141 the army of Stephen of England, led by his queen Matilda of Boulogne and William of Ypres, defeated the army of Empress Matilda's Angevin faction, commanded by Earl Robert of Gloucester...
the following September, ending her brief ascendancy in the wars with Stephen.
Incidental Information
see also Gwynedd during England's AnarchyThis battle features in the historical novel The Pillars of the Earth
The Pillars of the Earth
The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. It is set in the middle of the 12th century, primarily during the Anarchy, between the time of the sinking of the White Ship and the...
by Ken Follett
Ken Follett
Ken Follett is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels. He has sold more than 100 million copies of his works. Four of his books have reached the number 1 ranking on the New York Times best-seller list: The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple, and World Without End.-Early...
, and is described almost as it happened, including the capture of King Stephen and his subsequent exchange.
Similarly, it is recounted in "When Christ and his Saints Slept" by Sharon Penman.
The battle of Lincoln is also an important plot element in Dead Man's Ransom
Dead Man's Ransom
Dead Man's Ransom is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters. It is the ninth in the Brother Cadfael series, and was first published in 1984.-Plot summary:...
, a novel in the Brother Cadfael series by Edith Pargeter
Edith Pargeter
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM , also known by her nom de plume Ellis Peters, was a British author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both...
(writing as Ellis Peters).
See also
- Battle of Lincoln (1217)Battle of Lincoln (1217)The Second Battle of Lincoln occurred at Lincoln Castle on 20 May 1217, during the First Barons' War, between the forces of the future Louis VIII of France and those of King Henry III of England. Louis' forces were attacked by a relief force under the command of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke...